The Maharashtra CID on Wednesday, November 4 detained Republic television editor Arnab Goswami from his house in connection with the death of interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother Kumud Naik in 2018.
Assam Chief Minister (CM) Sarbananda Sonowal has called the arrest of the Republic TV journalist "a Black Day for Indian democracy."
"I strongly condemn the assault on senior journalist Arnab Goswami by Mumbai police. Vendetta politics should be stopped and freedom of the press should be maintained in Maharashtra by releasing Mr Goswami immediately," the Assam CM posted on Twitter.
Meanwhile, the Editors Guild of India (EGI) has condemned "the sudden arrest and find it extremely distressing."
"The Guild calls upon the Chief Minister of Maharashtra to ensure that Goswami is treated fairly and state power is not used against critical reporting by the media," it said in a statement.
Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also responded to the arrest and termed it "emergency days in Maharasthra".
"Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami physically assaulted & arrested by Mumbai police is nothing but muzzling freedom of the press by the vindictive M'rashtra govt. Strongly condemn this shameless politically motivated Mumbai police action. It's like Emergency days in Maharashtra," posted the Minister on Twitter.
Ashok Singhal, BJP MLA, Dhekiajuli, had evoked the links of Arnab Goswami with Assam. "Arnab Goswami is the bravest son of Assam & we stand with him and his family today. Not only Assam, whole India stands in support of Arnab today. This arrest is vindictive & intolerant action by the fascist Maharashtra Govt orchestrated by Sonia Gandhi," said Singhal.